As the day approached Margrett grew restless. More and more she thought about it, more and more she had the nightmares. Normally they didn't bother her; even though the memory came back, she thought she'd come to terms with it.
But, like every year, she thought that maybe she hadn't.
A week before the Day she walked out into the forest. Just walked. She knew there was a small pond out here in a clearing, so that's where she headed.
She reached the water, and just watched it a moment. Then she took her hammer off her back and in one fluid motion slammed the butt end into the soft dirt. Sitting it upright, she sat in front of it and put her hat on it, at a sort of angle she recognized. She looked at it a moment, then took a deep breath and spoke.
Hi Dad. She was quiet for almost a full minute.
I've been thinking. Another pause.
You never liked having Williamsburg. But I'm wondering...you...I...hmm. Would you mind if... She was at a loss for words. She put her face in her hands.
I don't know what to do. I don't have any idea. I'm here, doing what I thought you wanted, and it's...it's going well, but... Her eyes watered a little as she looked back up at the hat.
I don't know. I just need some help. Guidance. A sign. Anything. Her jaw quivered.
There was no reply. The water stirred in the breeze, leaves floating on the wind and spinning as they touched down, tiny boats. The reflection stirred, sun high in the sky and the clouds parting.
A dragonfly swept over the reflection, shuttered this way and that, darted one last time and then lighted upon her hat. It's wings flickered, lazily opened and closed in the midday sun. It was magical, a simple miracle, those wings so pretty and alive with a myriad of exotic colours.
It lured her eyes and the took flight again, dropped to swoop over the reflection once more before darting through the only part in the tree line - drawing her eyes to gaze upon the source of that reflection.
Williamsburg. The slumbering ruins laid far from here but on such a clear day she could make out familiar territory. She knew it well. And it almost felt like it was calling her.
She stared a moment at the direction the dragonfly went. She recognized the land in that direction. That was the way she'd come when she came to Wistvale. There was a moment of indecision.
Then she put on her hat and pulled her hammer from the ground. She decided to take that as a sign, because, well...it was better than nothing. She headed for Williamsburg.
An uneventful journey led her home and to the ruined remains of Williamsburg. To another traveller it would be quite beautiful, the scarred remains of the town now covered with all manner of green.
What to her might be a desolate memory, was an inspiration to another, a sign that life persisted regardless of circumstance. Or perhaps this was not lost on her. Only she could know. She certainly knew her way through the ruins though, the streets and buildings where as she remembered them.
She walked, head low, almost not wanting to look at the buildings. Her cape covered her body almost entirely, and as she passed the first house, she suddenly found herself in two towns.
The first was the ruins around her, thriving with green life. The second was Williamsburg as she remembered it, with people and bustling with production. There was the house with the woman who had seven children, four adopted. There was the house where Gamma lived. Margrett could see her sitting on the stoop, knitting and talking with people as they passed. There was the house Aaron lived in with his brother. She remembered the attic and blushed despite herself. There was the baker and his lover the blacksmith. The two men constantly argued, but their love was unconditional.
And here was the town square, the small ruined statue of her father covered in vines. She put her hand on it and sighed, closing her eyes. This was where she'd gathered them and told them to move on...because that's what she was doing. Moving on. She remembered leaving, walking out the south gate. It was about four years until she stopped wandering.
She turned to the charred ruins of the castle, trying to work up the nerve to go in. He was in there. Cremated, to the best of her ability. She didn't want to see him like that again, but maybe she could take the time to give him a proper burial.
The town remained rather quiet, the wind carried the sound of the trees and birds fluttered about, warbling happily. A small fall spilled from a ruined fountain, the stream that fed it was still strong. This place was entirely beautiful, peaceful.
But it held memories. The castle lay open, sun beaming in through dark doors.
She steeled herself and walked in through the ruined doors. The inside was charred beyond recognition, but vividly remembered the furnishings, sparse but still elegant. She could navigate the place blindfolded if she wanted. She stood in the entryway, unsure as to where to go first. She wasn't even sure why she was here. She closed her eyes and waited. For...whatever.
Whatever came by in the form of a slippery figure in the shadows. It stopped, sun reflecting in it's wild eyes - before it chittered in a shrill voice and scurried away hurriedly, it's tail swinging side to side of it's tiny body.
Whatever it was, it was quick - and heading deeper into what remained of this grand complex.
Margrett opened her eyes in time to see the thing, and blinked a moment, stunned a little. Of course things would have taken over the place by now; but she hadn't really thought of it until now.
She took off after it, cape billowing out behind her as she ran. It was heading for the split in the hallway; to the left the old kitchen and to the right the stairs going up.
It ran right, it was indeed quite fast but it scurried over rubble and ruin, bouncing off this and that. It reached the top of the stairs, turned it's reptilian head and with an 'EEP' scrambled for the door handle...
"HELPS! LETS US INNNNN!!!!"
It was very panicked now, hopping up and down and scratching madly at the door.
Margrett stopped halfway up the stairs. It was talking? What was it, a kobold or something? She put out a hand to try and calm it, walking up the stairs slowly.
Hey there. I'm not gonna hurt you. What's your name, huh?
The creature turned and looked at her with massive yellow eyes, it's jaw quivering. Yes, a Kobold. It raised a crude knife and pointed it feebly at her, closing it's eyes.... before it fell backward through the opening door.
BAM, it closed instantly. Voices on the other side sounded panicked and triumphant, seems their opinion was divided.